End-gate for wagons



1%.?70572. a PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

P. GNATZIG.

END GATE FOR WAGONS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 19041.

PAUL GNATZIG, OF SUN PRAIRIE, WISCONSIN.

END-GATE FOR WAG-ONS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,572, dated September 20, 1904.

Application filed June 15, 1904. Serial No. 212,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL GNATZIG, residing in Sun Prairie, in the county of Dame and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in End Gates for Wagon-Boxes, of which the following is 'a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an end-gate for a wagon-box that not being hinged directly to the wagon-box is yet so mounted thereon as not to be accidentally or readily detached therefrom, that can be quickly and easily swungto position on the end of the box and secured firmly in place, closing the otherwise open end of the box, and can be readily released and swung away from the end of the box to a non-interfering and supported position under the box.

The invention consists of the end-gate and related parts and their combinations, as herein described and claimed, or the equivalents thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a fragment of a wagon-box with my improved end gate thereon, showing especially the means for mounting the gate and securing it in place. Fig. 2 is also an elevation at the side of a fragment of a wagon-box with my end -gate mounted thereon, the end-gate being shown in the position it occupies when removed from the end of the'box, a part of the box being broken away to exhibit interior construction. Fig. 3 is an end view of the wagon-box with my improved gate mounted thereon, the gatebeing in the position shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A represents a wagon-box of the general form in common use, in which there is a fiat bottom and upright sides. My improved end-gate is especially adapted for being applied to a box of this character, although the special form ofthe box is not important.

The end-gate 2 may be made of any suitable material, though ordinarily where the wagonbox is of wood the body of the end-gate would also properly be of wood, the end-gate being of a size and form to fit against the ends of the bottom and the sides of the box, thus closing the end of the box when in position there- I on, as shown in Fig. 1. For protecting and strengthening the ends of the gate I ad visably put angle-irons 3 3 on and across the end of the gate, one flange of which angle-iron in each case fits on the outer surface of the gate. These angle-irons are secured to the gate by any suitable means. The end-gate is also provided with metal straps 4 4, which are placed on the outer surface and transversely thereof at a distance apart and at the lower edge of the gate turn under'it and extend beyond the inner surface of the gate a little distance and then turn upwardly, forming hooks 5 5, adapted toengage catches on the bottom of the wagon-box, as hereinafter described. The end-gate is mounted on'the wagon-box'by means of lever-armst 6, one at each end of the gate, which arms at one end are pivoted to the gate conveniently by stud-pins 7 7, fixed in the ends of the gate at a distance. from thetop, but nearer the top than the bottom of the gate, which pins project outwardly through the arms 6 6 and are advisably pro 'vided with heads that prevent the arms from escaping from the pins. These arms 6 6 are pivoted medially by bolts 8 8 onv the sides of the Wagon-box near the bottom thereof and at a distance from the end of the box, so that the arms when the end-gate is in position on the end of the box closing it are in oblique positions downwardly toward the front from the axis of their connections on theendgate, as shown in Fig. 1. By mounting the end} gate on the wagon-box by the means and in the manner just described it can be swung by the arms 6 6, and thereby lifted and brought to position against the end of the wagonrbox, as shown in Fig. 1, thus closing it, and when desired by swinging the arms in the reverse direction the end-gate will be removed from the end of the wagon-box and carried down underneath the box into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus removing it entirely from the end of the box,'while yet supporting it thereon, but in a position that will not interfere with the loading or unloading of material into or from the wagon-box at the open end thereof. The construction and relation of the parts is such that in removing the end gate and carrying it under the wagon-box it will be carried down sufficiently far to clear the cross-bar or cleat 9, secured to the under side of the wagon-box at its end for strengthening it.

For conveniently moving the end-gate to position on the end of the box and removing it therefrom and for locking it in these positions the arms 6 6 are extended beyond the bolt-pivots 8 8 and at their outer ends are each provided with releasably fastening means, which advisably consist of locking-pins 10 10,

mounted in the extremities of these arms 66,

which for this purpose are each provided with a bracket 11 11, projecting outwardly there from and opposite to and in front of the end of the arm and through which bracket and arm registering apertures are provided, in which the pins fit and are slidable endwise, the pins being held up to their work yieldingly by springs 12 12, coiled about the pins and bearing outwardly against the brackets 11 and inwardly against collars 13 13, fixed on the pins. These pins are adapted to enter holes 1 1 therefor in holding-plates 15, fixed on the sides of the wagon-box, whereby the end-gate is locked either on the end of the box or underneath it in the positions shown, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2-. The pins 10 are advisably turned over at their outer ends, forming heads for conveniently grasping them for withdrawing them from engagement with the plate.

The hooks 5 when the end-gate is raised and brought to position against the end of the wagon-box, as shown in Fig. 1, engage catches 16 on the end of the bottom of the wagon-box, which catches are conveniently made as a part of strengthening-straps 17, fitted and secured to the inside of the sides of the wagon-box and at the bottom extending therefrom inwardly along on the surface of the bottom of the box and at the outer edge of this bottom plate being turned over and downwardly on and against the end of the bottom of the box. Recesses 18 are cut in the box behind the catches 16 to receive the hooksho behind the catches. The plates 15 ,areadvisablymade in semicircular form to serve not only as holding-plates for the locking-pinslO, but also to serve as a guard or wearing plate for thelever-arms 6 to swing on and are provided with transverse diametrical members which fit against the box under the leverarms 6 6 and about the pivot-bolts 8. What I claim as my invention is In combination, a wagon-box, an endgate adapted to fit against the end of the box, arms pivoted to the ends of the gate and to the sides of the box at a distance from the endgate and below the horizontal planes of the pivoting on the end-gate when the gate is in place on the end of the box, and means on the arms and complementary means on the box for locking the arms in position to hold the gate in place on the end of the box.

2. In combination, a wagon-box, a gate adapted to fit against the end of the box, arms pivoted to the ends of the gate and to the sides of the box at a distance from the gate and below the horizontal plane of the pivoting on the gate when the gate is in place on the end of the box, extensions of said arms beyond their pivoting on the box, and means on said extensions for locking them holding the gate in position on the end of the box and removed therefrom.

3. In combination, a wagon-box, an endgate, arms pivoted to the ends of the gate medially and to the wagon-box adapted to swing the gate to place against the end of the box and rearwardly away and downwardly therefrom to substantially horizontal position under the box, and means on the arms and box for locking the arms and holding the gate against the end of the box and beneath the box.

4:. In combination, a wagon-box, an endgate, arms pivoted to the ends of the gate and to the wagon-box adapted to swing the gate to place against the end of the box and rearwardly and downwardly therefrom to position under the box, hooks extending inwardly on the lower edge of the gate, catches on the bottom of the box adapted to be engaged by said hooks upwardly, and means on the arms and box for locking the arms in place when the gate is against the end of the box and when it is beneath the box.

5. In combination, a wagon-box, an endgate, arms pivoted to the ends of the gate and to the sides of the box at a distance from the gate, extensions of said arms beyond their pivoting to the box, spring-actuated locking-pins in said extensions, holding-plates on the box having holes adapted to receive said lockingpins, hooks on the end-gate, and catches on the bottom of the box adapted to be engaged by said hooks.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL GNATZIG.

Witnesses:

JOHN MORAN, J. M BA'rz. 

